The Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce is promising amnesty for the culprits who stole a four-metre-tall Santa from the yard in front of its office Monday night.
"A note to the abductors: If you want to return your Christmas karma to the good side and you want to warm the hearts of many Qualicum Beach residents, we will receive our Santa back with no questions asked," chamber CEO Evelyn Clark wrote in a news release about the theft.
While the chamber has promised amnesty, there has been no similar pledge from the RCMP. And the chamber's news release actually got more dramatic.
"Now, no small children can wave back as Santa moves in the breeze. No poignant senior can relive a time when Santa played a big role in their children's Christmas dreams. No hapless visitor can be reminded that Qualicum Beach welcomes them to visit, shop and partake of our warm hospitality." — NEWS Staff